4720 fuel filter service.

AKfish · Nov 22, 2014

First off, I didn't check out TBN before the last step in my maintainence schedule for the 4720. My mistake... However, after 2 plus hours, a low battery and many shop towels and 3 hazmat pads -- I quit for the night to dream about the various things I'd like to do to the design engineer who decided that the lift pump for the 4720 was adequate!

I have several ideas about what I'd like to do with that particular item and their anatomy!!

The tractor would not stay running and then would not re-start! No matter how many times I bled the system and rebled the system or removed the filter and pre-filled it, etc.

Long story short -- after prefilling and bleeding -- have your wife crank the engine while you pump the hand primer. It'll sputter a bit and take right off after 10-12 revolutions! Problem solved.

AKfish

arlen4720 · Nov 23, 2014

I've always just replaced the filter with no prefilling. I prefill with the hand primer, bleed, then pressurize with the hand primer. It has never even sputtered.

AKfish · Nov 24, 2014

arlen4720 said:
I've always just replaced the filter with no prefilling. I prefill with the hand primer, bleed, then pressurize with the hand primer. It has never even sputtered.

That's what I do with my DuraMax - works every time. Nonetheless, after reading a number of posts here (after giving up) regarding the fickle nature of priming the system it seems I'm not the first one to have that problem.

AKfish

arlen4720 · Nov 24, 2014

AKfish said:
That's what I do with my DuraMax - works every time. Nonetheless, after reading a number of posts here (after giving up) regarding the fickle nature of priming the system it seems I'm not the first one to have that problem.

AKfish

I'm sure I will START having trouble now. :laughing: I've only changed fuel filters a couple of times, so I probably got lucky

9973720wb19 · Nov 24, 2014

i had issues with changing the fuel filter on my 4720 too. it was down right dangerous i could not get it started and during the priming, got fuel sprayed all over my shirt was soaked with fuel...i was pissed. finally got it running. i did not pre-fill the the filter but will next time and hope it works better...if not i'll call my wife to help. if it does not go well...it will all be her fault! LOL

AKfish · Nov 24, 2014

arlen4720 said:
I'm sure I will START having trouble now. :laughing: I've only changed fuel filters a couple of times, so I probably got lucky

The 4720 is a new tractor - to me - but only has just over 100hrs. So, I'm just beginning to learn my way around it. Never have had a problem changing out the fuel filter on my 110TLB, but it's a Yanmar.

And reading thru the Operator's manual, I figured it was gonna be eazy peazy - like my Dmax. Nope... It was a real pita!

To be honest, I figured I was gonna have to crack each injector line at the pump and bleed 'em! I wasn't too excited about that prospect... So, I searched this forum before taking that step and lo and behold there were other poor souls that had suffered the same "John Deere design" frustration!

That's how I came up with the -- have your wife crank the engine while you pump the primer -- idea. From TBN!!

Great resource. Better than the OM, in many instances.

AKfish